100 YEARS AGO — 1918

The patriotic citizens of Lincoln County have organized a Liberty Service League and give warning to all disloyal citizens in words that evidently mean business. An organization in Boyle County might be a good thing, although we haven’t many disloyal citizens. There are a few everywhere, however, and they should be brought to justice.

A well-known citizen of Junction City committed suicide at his home yesterday morning. He fired a revolver twice, one shot taking effect in the head and one in the heart. Death resulted in a short time. It is said the man, after shooting himself in the head, reloaded the revolver and fired the second shot into his heart. Ill health is said to be the cause of the rash act. No one witnessed the shooting.

The grocery stores in Danville will be closed on Thursday, July 4 and everybody is hereby notified to keep this in mind and buy their groceries the day before.

Samuel Hancock, who bought from Eld. W.T. May the farm known as the Dr. W.A. Brown place, is removing the old roof and putting on a new one. He left at the Advocate office a sample of the shingles taken off of the building. They are black walnut shaved shingles and had been in use for 80 years. They are in a fair state of preservation.

The McGuffeys in Lincoln County are a fine bunch of youngsters. They are: Homer McGuffey, 21, now with the U.S. Naval Corps in France; Grover McGuffey, 26, is with the Coast Guard Artillery in Panama; and Tom McGuffey, 16, who is now seeing service in France. They are sons of William McGuffey who lives on the Danville Pike. The boys all volunteered and if good reports are not heard from them there will be general disappointment among their friends.

75 YEARS AGO — 1943

A permanent nursery school for young children of the Neighborhood Home community will open on July 5. In charge is Miss Josephine Van Winkle of Danville. Miss Van Winkle, a sophomore of Mt. Holyoke College has completed a war course in “Child Care.” Her program for the nursery school includes periods of free play, and organized play including games, marching and handwork. Children between the ages of 3 and 6 will be excepted.

The Sunny-Side Park swimming pool and playground will open on July 4. With one of the most beautiful pools in the state, Sunny-Side park will attract many folk from Boyle and surrounding counties. Nine acres of picnic ground are available. Eventually horses and ponies will be added as a feature of the park. Outdoor bowling, shuffleboard, badminton, golf driving and miniature golf are contemplated for the future.

The realities of war were faced for the second time by Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Route of Baughman Heights when a recent long-distance call from their son, Private James Route of the U.S. Army, told them he had arrived in New York for hospitalization after having been rippled in action in North Africa. Another son, Corporal Route, lost his life in World War I. Their third son, Petty Officer Herman Route is now in a ship-building program at Columbus, Ohio.

Taking a tip from anonymous letters received at his office, Sheriff McGinnis captured a 75-gallon still and arrested the father of a large family near Parksville. The still was found a short distance from the man’s home. Forty gallons of mash was set near the still and many jugs were found, but no whiskey. He was fined $100 and costs. Judge Farris ordered the still be confiscated for scrap.

50 YEARS AGO — 1968

The property at West Main Street and McGraw Alley on which the First Christian Church burned about three years ago was sold at public auction to the Danville Construction Company for $126,200. The entire property, which fronted about 230 feet on Main Street and about 238 feet on McGraw Alley was sold as a whole after it had been offered separately in six tracts. No announcement as to the future use of the location was available.

A brand new company began operations in Danville and a long-familiar name will pass from the scene. The newly-formed South Central Bell Telephone Company took over the business of Southern Bell Telephone Company in Danville.

The 1968-69 school calendar for the Boyle County Schools was adopted by the board of Education. There will be two in-service training days and they will be held on Aug. 22 and 23. School will begin on Aug. 26 and the term will end on May 22.

25 YEARS AGO — 1993

Danville’s $11 million budget for 1993-94 has been approved. City agencies funded were the Parking Authority, $1,000 and beautification committee, $3,200. Nonprofit agencies include Wilderness Trace Child Development Center, $7,500; Historical society, $500; senior citizens, $25,000; YWCA Spouse Abuse Center, $5,000; Heart of Danville, $27,000; and brass band festival, $5,000.

The amount of development taking pace along Danville’s bypass has captured the attention of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. When the National Trust put together a list of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places,” Danville was included. Yvonne Morley, director of the Heart of Danville said she hopes being on the list can be an advantage to the community. One of the program’s concerns is that historic downtowns remain economically viable.

What the National Trust for Historic Preservation sees as a danger to historic Danville, local business leaders see as a sign of economic vitality. One of the reasons bypass development is under such scrutiny is because Walmart is set to open a supercenter next spring on U.S. 127. Shirley Clark, executive director of the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce said, “The challenge of the 90’s and beyond will be to plan for compatible growth and at the same time maintain the historic beauty and vitality of the downtown area.”